At 7:30pm this Friday evening, England U17s will take to the pitch for their second group-stage fixture of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship, held at the Stadiumi “Arena Egnatia”, one of four host venues in Albania. Just two days after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Belgium, the Young Lions now face a crucial clash with Italy, knowing that a victory would not only put them top of the group, leapfrogging the Azzurrini, but also put them in prime position to secure a place in the semi-finals. Clinching top spot in the group is particularly important, as it would likely lead to a more favourable semi-final tie against the runner-up from the other section, which features France, Portugal, Germany and hosts Albania.
England’s Line-Up to Face Italy :
Head coach Neil Ryan named an exciting and talented 21-man squad last week, filled with players already making waves at senior level despite their youth. Among them are Jack Porter (goalkeeper – Arsenal), Rio Ngumoha (left winger – Liverpool), and Kaden Branthwaite (centre-back – Manchester City), all of whom have had exposure to first-team football this season.
One of the standout selections is Max Dowman, Arsenal’s attacking midfielder born in 2009, who started against Belgium and retains his place for tonight’s game. He is the youngest player at the tournament, aged just 15.
Other key players to watch include Finlay Gorman, a composed midfield presence from Manchester City, and Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez, the only member of the squad playing his club football abroad (at Olympique Lyonnais in France). The forward has an impressive record at this level, having netted six goals in eight caps for the U17s so far, including England’s goal in the opening match.
England Starting XI vs Italy :
- Jack Porter (Arsenal)
- Kaden Branthwaite (Manchester City)
- Jun’ai Byfield (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Malachy Hardy (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Dean Benamar (Crystal Palace)
- Louis Page (Leicester City)
- Bradley Burrowes (Aston Villa)
- Seth Ridgeon (Fulham)
- Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool)
- Max Dowman (Arsenal FC)
- Alejandro Rodriguez (Olympique Lyonnais)
